Boys' Town's goalscorer, George Vernal, controls the ball on his chest, in proximity to Portmore United's Ryan Powell (left) and Ricardo Cousins, during their Digicel Premier League game at Collie Smith Drive, yesterday. Boys' Town won 2-1. - Ian Allen

BOYS' TOWN yesterday rebounded from their 6-2 thrashing at Waterhouse to edge early second round finalists and overall Digicel Premier League leaders, champions Portmore United, 2-1 at Collie Smith Drive.

A pair of goals in 60 seconds, netted by George Vernal and Michael Campbell, 18th and 19th minutes, respectively, knocked the wind out of Portmore's sails early before Wolry Wolfe buried a long-range looper past the Boys' Town 'keeper a minute before half-time.

Boys' Town jumped to 20 second round points with the victory, which put them three behind Portmore, needing only a draw against Tivoli, in their final match of the round - not fond memories - to make the bonus final.

Tivoli, Harbour View and Arnett Gardens are all on 17 second round points, heading into the final match of the round.

Tivoli whipped hapless Sporting Central 4-1 at the Edward Seaga Stadium, getting goals from Roland Dean in the 10th, Navion Boyd, 25th, Dwight Heron, 48th, and Michael Blygen six minutes from time, before Keithy Simpson scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Motivation

Coach Max Straw said Tivoli are using the second-round final as motivation.

"In the long run, the aim is to get closer to overall leaders Portmore," he added after a satisfying performance from his team, which simply outclassed struggling Sporting Central.

Overall second-place Harbour View made up ground on leaders Portmore United, drawing 0-0 with Waterhouse to reduce the lead to two points.

Harbour View are down to face Portmore at Compound in their final game. A home win and a Boys' Town loss against Tivoli being their only hope of reaching the bonus final, as they have a superior goal difference to their three rivals.

Harbour View have plus-seven, Boys' Town plus-three, while Tivoli and Arnett have plus-two.

Boys' Town and neighbours Tivoli continue to travel as a team in the overall standings, glued on 38 points.

However, Tivoli are still clinging to overall third, on goal difference, over Boys' Town.

St Georges are out of the running for the second round final but maintained fifth spot, edging Reno 1-0 at Frome for a rare road win.

Daniel Shaw netted early, in the second minute, at goalmouth to grab three points for Geoffrey Maxwell's side, which lost 2-1 to Arnett Gardens off a last-minute heartbreaking penalty at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday.

Arnett pulled off a similar feat at the Elliston Wakeland Centre yesterday, Kevin Wilson netting from the spot against Village in stoppage time after Fabian Dawkins had sent the homesters ahead in the 55th.

Completing yesterday's fixture, promoted Meadhaven switched places with Sporting Central at the foot of the standings, drawing 0-0 with eighth-place Rivoli at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Tivoli Gardens' goalscorer Navion Boyd dribbles away from Sporting Central's Keithy Simpson (right) and Marlon Allen during their Digicel Premier League match at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday. Boyd scored Tivoli's second goal in their 4-1 win. - Ian Allen

Standings

Teams Pld W D L GF GA GD PTS

Portmore 21 12 6 3 29 14 15 42

H'bour View 21 11 7 3 28 10 18 40

Tivoli 21 11 5 5 25 13 12 38

Boys' Town 21 11 5 5 31 24 7 38

St Georges 21 9 6 6 19 17 2 33

Waterhouse 21 7 7 7 28 28 0 28

Arnett 21 8 4 9 16 18 -2 28

Rivoli 21 6 5 10 21 30 -9 23

Reno 21 3 10 8 23 28 -5 19

Village 21 4 7 10 20 32 -12 19

Sport Central 21 3 7 11 15 29 -14 16

Meadhaven 21 4 5 12 16 30 -14 17